Changes in apathy, depression, and anxiety in Parkinson's disease from before to during the COVID-19 era

Abstract

Apathy, depression, and anxiety are common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Tracking the changes in such symptoms over time would be valuable not only to determine their natural course during the disease, but also to establish the effects of unusual historical events interacting with the natural course. Having collected data on apathy (Apathy Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II), and anxiety (Parkinson's Anxiety Scale) in a large sample of persons with PD (PwPD) before the beginning of the COVID-19 era, we followed up with these individuals to investigate the changes in their prevalence of apathy, depression, and anxiety across two timepoints (T1 and T2). Of the original 347 participants, 111 responded and provided complete data at T2. The data collection at T1, before COVID-19, occurred between 2017-2018. The data collection at T2 occurred in 2021 and included the same measures, with the addition of the Coronavirus Impact Scale to assess the effects of the pandemic on the individual participants. Over this period, there was a significant increase in apathy, but not in depression or anxiety. Anxiety and depression, but not apathy, were correlated with the impact of COVID-19.